William h



May 13 W. H. CATER WELL SCREEN Filed Sent. 16. 1921 l atented lit lay id, 19224.

lJNlTED STATES VIILLIAM H. (EATER, 035 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HELL SCREEN.

Application filed September 16, 1921., Serial 1470. 501,190.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, l VILLIAM H. CATER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Well Screens, of which the following is a specification.

My invention pertains to apertured or perforated well-screens or casings and similar structures designed to be driven or forced down into the ground as the wells are sunk and to permit water or other liquids to flow through the holes in their sides.

One object of the new and improved form of structure is to make the sheet-metal screen or casing of substantiallyuniform strength throughout its length, whereby no part or section is weaker than any other, and hence not more likely to give way, crush, or rupture under the rather severe strains and stresses to which it is subjected.

A further purpose of the invention is the provision of a foraminous sheet-metal shell or casing which is easier to force down into the earth than those types of reticulated screens in more common use.

An added object of the new style of perforated screen or casing is the easier access of liquids to its slots or openings.

Another aim of the invention is the production of a screen or casing of this form which possesses greater than the customary strength throughout, hence, in some cases permitting the employment of a thinner gauge of metal than has heretofore been usual.

Still another advantage accruing from the employment of the new screen or casing is the certainty of making connection with any water or other liquid vein, no mat ter how narrow or shallow it maybe.

One more benefit arising from the use of the present invention in practical physical embodiment resides in having the bottom shoe or foot of the casing or screen and the coupling members which unite its sections together hear at their ends against the outwardly-bowed metal strips which provide between their edges and the main body of the shell the required slots or openings, thus giving to the structure as a Whole an unusual degree of strength and power to successfully withstand the severe strains to which the casing is put during the well sinking operation.

In order that those skilled in this art may have a full and complete understanding of the invention and the various structural and functional advantages accruing from its use, in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and to which reference should be had in connection with the following detailed description, I have illustrated a desirable and preferred embodiment of the invention, like reference characters referring to the same parts throughout the several views.

In this drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical, central section through the well-casing and its shoe and the enclosed associated pump;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section 22 of Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevation on an enlarged scale of a portion of the exterior of the screen or casing;

By reference to the drawing, it will be seen that the perforated or apertured sheetmetal screen creasing, as is usual, is composed of a series of tubular sections or parts 11 arranged end to end in axial alignment, such elements being fastened together, as is customary, by suitable coupling-rings 12, secured to and encasing the unslotted end portions of the casing sections or units.

Each such sheet-metal cylindrical section is provided with many horizontal circular rows of slots or elongated holes 13, those of each horizontal row being offset sidewise from those of the rows directly above and below it a distance equal to one-half the space between adjacent slots of the same row.

Stated somewhat differently, the slots of the rowsarestaggered, those of each row being opposite the unperforated portions of the metal band or section either above or below it.

It is to be noted, also, however, that each slot extends upwardly beyond the aligned lower ends of the slots of the next row above it and continues down below the registered upper ends of the slots of the row beneath it.

All of these numerous slots or elongated openings, which from another viewpoint are arranged in staggered longitudinal rows, are formed by shearing the metal along spaced, parallel, vertical lines of the length of the slot to be produced and subsequently, or simultaneously with the out on line ting operation, forcing outwardly the intervening narrow metal strip 14, substantially parallel to the face of the shell, except at its ends which join directly with the main body of the metal of the screen with which they form integral parts.

Thus, two, long, narrow slots are provided at the opposite edges of each of such outwardly-pressed, bridge portions of the metal communicating directly with the elongated hole or cavity directly beneath the metal strip.

At its lower end, the casing is equipped with a flaring, sectional foot or shoe 15 composed of a plurality of longitudinal parts with registering, outstanding, apertured lugs 16, 16, fastened together by securing bolts 17, 17.

The lower circular edge (18) of this foot or shoe is sharp to facilitate its passage through the earth, the outer surface 19 ad-. jacent to such edge being substantially vertical, the corresponding inner face 20 being inclined or flaring outwardly to such edge.

The lower larger diameter of this foot or shoe is substantially greater than that of the couplings fastening the casing sections together, thus rendering less difficult the downward movement of the whole structure through the earth.

The lower end of the lowermost screen section rests on an internal, circular shoulder 21 in the upper portion of the foot or shoe, and the top edge of the latter bears against the lower ends of the lowermost row of the outwardly-displaced strips of metal which provide the slots or openings for the screen.

Thus a firm union between the foot and casing is secured, an end of each bearing against some portion of the other to more effectively transmit the downward thrusts with the least danger of damage to the parts.

In somewhat similar manner, the top and bottom edges of each coupling-ring l2 bear on the ends of the endmost rows of the outwardl -bowed brid e ieces of the casinm sections, whereby to secure a strong junction between the ends of the parts of the sectional screen.

These styles of connections between the shoe and couplings and easing sections also provide a smoother outside surface to the cured to a base-ring 23 having a bottom edge notched or recessed at 2%, 24c for the passage inwardly therethrough of water, earth, gravel, etc., such end element 23 within the lower part of the cylindrical shell 22 being equipped with a hinged valve 25 disposed in an inclined relation when closed over the end of member 23 to facilitate its upward opening movement under the suction action to which it is subjected.

Internally, the pump-cylinder accommodates a reciprocatory perforated or ported piston or plunger 26 mounted fixedly on the lower end of an upright rod or shaft 27 having an eye or loop 28 at its upper end for the attachment of an operating cable or chain, not shown.

A round, flexible valve 29, such as of leather or rubber, is positioned over the top face of the plunger and is adapted to open and close the holes or ports of the latter, depending upon the direction of movement of the parts as will be readily understood.

A coil cushion-spring 3O surrounds the rod or shaft just above the valve, as is clearly indicated.

At the top end of the pump, the rod or shaft 27 slides through a bearing-block 31 swivelled at 32 in the walls of the pumpcylinder, the latter being cut away on one side at 33 for a sidewise discharge of the pumps contents, during which operation the rod or shaft 27, by reason of the turning of the bearing-block, occupies a recess or slot 34 cut in the opposite side of the pumpcylinder.

The appliance operates substantially as follows:

Assuming that the perforated casing or lining, composed of the several united apertured sections 11, equipped at its lower end with the sharp-edged foot or shoe, has been weighted or loaded at its top end, the pump is lowered in the well and the casing until the base-ring rests on the earth at the bottom of the well, in which position it will be surrounded by the foot or shoe l5, piston or plunger 26 being lowered to the bottom portion of the pump shell or cylinder, the valve 25 at this time being closed.

Then the cable or chain, not shown, engaging the eye 28, is lifted, causing the rapid ascent of the piston or plunger, which creates a high degree of suction beneath it, thus unbalancing the air pressures, occasioning the opening of valve 25 and the filling of the pump-cylinder beneath the piston with a mixture of dirt, gravel, water, etc., owing to the fact that such substantial suction is created by the pump in the unapertured or unperforated sloping gravity foot or shoe, and it is particularly effective because the shoe or foot is without holes or inlets, in removing the earth from beneath the foot or shoe and sucking or drawing the latter downwardly which action, of course, is assisted by gravity acting on the outer earth pressing down on the sloping exterior face of the shoe.

If the bell-shaped foot were apertured, the water in flowing inwardly through its per-- forations would tend to draw the surrounding earth inwardly in the same direction, which action would render no assistance in the necessary and essential downward travel of the weighted casing.

Where, however, an unapertured foot or shoe is employed, as in this instance, the outside earth tends to be drawn or sucked downwardly on the outer sloping surface of the shoe, by reason of the suction action present around its bottom edge, and such tendency to downward movement by reason of the suction is supplemented by the action of gravity on such earth which effectively and elliciently assists in forcing the casing or lining downwardly.

Thus, it will be seen that a marked and definite advantage is had in employing an unperforated foot or shoe performing the function stated.

It will be perceived, that, unlike those earlier well screens or linings having alternate horizontal bands of perforated and unapertured metal, each of the present screen sections is uniformly slotted throughout its length.

During the use of such earlier casings, the earth becomes lodged against the casing in more or less horizontal ribs or ridges in register with the smooth unslotted bands or portions of the screen and disposed between the adjacent top and bottom ends of the outwardly-pressed metal strips of the rows directly beneath and directly above them, and the presence of these ribs or portions of earth interlocking more or less with the rough. exterior surface of the casing hinders the effective downward travelthereof.

in the present screen, however, there are no such circular, horizontal, external grooves around the casing between circular rows of outstanding metal strips and hence there is no possibility for the presence of such rough ribs or ridges with their detrimental motion retarding and obstructing the descent of the casing.

In other words, owing to: the offset or staggered relation of its outstanding metal strips, the new casing, as a whole, presents a much smoother exterior surface than those of the older type, and hence the present casing may be forced into the ground more easily and with less pressure.

lit will be observed, also, that, whereas the earlier screens, with their alternate bands of perforated and unperforated metal were of unequal strength throughout their length, presenting alternate zones of strength and weakness in some degree, the new screen is of uniform strength throughout its length, and no part thereof is any more likely than any other part to crush or collapse under the strains to which it is put.

By reason of this desirable characteristic, in some instances, it is possible to use a thinner gauge of sheet-metal than has heretofore been usual.

It Will be noted in addition that, because of the even distribution of the outwardly bowed metal strips throughout the entire body of each screen section, it is stronger against radial or circumferential inward crushing-than are those sections employing such strips and theirassociated slots in segregated circular groups.

Also, because in the improved screen there are slots or openings throughout the entire length of each section, the water or other liquid encountered in any thin or shallow vein in the earth through which the wall is being sunk is certain of access to the interior of the casing, because some of the slots are sure to be in register with the vein, regardless of its small dimensions. This, of course, is not true of those screens having bands or portions of unapertured metal.

Furthermore, by staggering the slots and metal strips, that is shifting lengthwise the casing the alternate ones of each circular horizontal row, in the manner clearly illustrated in the drawing, or, stated differently, shifting longitudinally of the casing the alternate lengthwise'rows of metal strips and the holes formed thereby, a freer access is 1 had to all the slots because of the greater distance between them than in the earlier style of easing referred to above.

The invention is not limited and restricted to the exact details of structure shown and described, because these are susceptible of more or less radical modifications without departure from the heart and essence of the invention and without the sacrifice of any of its substantial benefits and advantages.

Certain features of construction shown and'described herein and not claimed form the subject-matter of my United States Patent 1,431,872 issued October 10, 1922.

I claim:

1. A foraminous single-thickness sheetmetal well-screen, adapted for association with a pump inside thereof and for descent in the earth during the driving of the well, having a single-thickness sheet-metal wall provided with slots arranged in longitudinal and transverserows, each pair of slots being formed by a metal strip, integral with the body of the screen and connected therewith at its opposite ends, outwardly deflected from the main body of the screen, the interior of the screen, being practically smooth, the strips of each longitudinal row being offset lengthwise the screen with relation to those of the longitudinal rows on opposite sides thereof, the slots of each transverse row extending lengthwise the screen beyond the adjacent ends of the slots of the two transverse rows directly above and below it.

2. A well-screen of the character described, comprising in combination a plurality oi foraminous sheet-metal well-screen sections arranged in register end to end, each of said sections having slots therethrough provided by outwardly-deflected strips of the sheet-metal integral at their ends with the main body of the metal-sheet, and a coupling fastening adjacent sections of the screen together encircling cylindrical r end portions thereof and bearing at its opposite ends against the endniost outstanding strips of such sections.

3. In well-screen of the character described, the combination of a fomminous sheet-metal Well-screen, adapted for association with a pump inside thereof and for c escent in the earth during the driving of the well, having a sheet nietal wall provided with slots formed by inetal-strips integral at their ends with the body of the screen and outwardly deflected therefrom, said strips and associated slots being arranged in longitudinal rows staggered with relation to those of the adjacent rows, and a shouldered flaring unperforated shoe having a sharp lower edge secured to the bottom end of said screen with the latter bearing on the shoe shoulder and the shoe bearing against the lower ends of the lowermost row of said outstanding metal strips.

WILLIAM H. CATER. 

